Silent Temples

There is this temple in South City-I, Gurgaon. When one visits it, next to it one finds a small pond below a huge Banyan tree. There is also a small straw hut which is inside the temple boundary.
There used to be an ascetic who lived in the hut, long before Gurgaon as we know it came about. The hut is still maintained. The pond seems to have shrunk a little in all these 3 years I have visited the temple.

What appeals to me is the thought that once upon a time this would be open land and this ascetic chose to build a hut near a pond to spend his days meditating. It offers a very strong contrast to the multi storied buildings that stand behind it. The multi-storied buildings signifying the modern amenities and luxuries and this with the pond - the simple existence.

In Sushant Lok -1, Gurgaon, there is another temple, which you need to know exists to reach there. It is hidden right in the middle of sprawling Sushant Lok but it too commands an environment of its own. There is a huge pond in front of it which has sand on its banks. It is sorrounded by huge Banyan trees and the temple gives a look of one of those temples which are right in the middle of a jungle because of the sorrounding environment. One can hear peacocks and some other birds and animals. The temple is deserted for most parts of the day and the place is really peaceful.

Two places which are reminiscent of the life away from chaos, noise and stress of modern day living in the city.